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Optimizer proves best in Fair Grounds Handicap

Optimizer (right) wore down Willcox Inn with a bid up the rail at the quarter pole (Hodges Photography/Alexander Barkoff) Optimizer slogged his way to another New Orleans graded stakes score on Saturday, this time in the Grade 3, $145,500 Fair Grounds Handicap. Both pacesetter Willcox Inn, who set splits of :24 3/5, :51 2/5 and 1:17, and Optimizer, who tracked in second most of the way, raced out in the middle of the rain-soaked turf course for the opening seven furlongs. At the top of the stretch, jockey Jon Court, aboard Optimizer, urged his mount through an opening at the rail and the four-year-old colt responded. Easily overtaking a tiring Willcox Inn, Optimizer drew off on the testing ground and passed the wire two lengths ahead of 7-1 closer Bim Bam. "His performance was as top-shelf as it could possibly have been," Court said. "We were in and out trying to find the best part of the track and, when it came down to it, I did venture down on the inside and I got back to the outside; we were trying to find the firmest spot out there and it's all pretty soft. But he handled it well enough to save some ground and make that move towards the lead down on the inside and that put us in the winner's circle."

After completing about 1 1/8 miles in 1:56, Optimizer rewarded his backers with mutuels of $4, $2.60 and $2.20 as the even-money favorite. Bim Bam completed the exacta, three-quarters of a length ahead of Two Months Rent. The same margin separated the latter with Willcox Inn, while Cavalero trailed the field more than seven lengths back. 

The boggy conditions resulted in numerous early scratches, including Golden Yank, Hyper, Major Gain, Quality Control, Strike Impact and Unlatch.

Optimizer races for Brad Kelley, who bred Optimizer in Kentucky under his Bluegrass Hall banner. In recent weeks, Kelley has forsaken that moniker and now races as Calumet Farm, the historic Lexington, Kentucky, nursery he was instrumental in purchasing nearly a year ago. Optimizer is trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

Although he has made frequent visits to the main track, most successfully in the Grade 2 Rebel last year where he finished second, and the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity in 2011 where he finished third, Optimizer has found his best on turf. Second in the Grade 2 With Anticipation at two, he returned to infield competition after competing in all three legs of the Triple Crown last term. His first stakes win came in the Grade 3 Kent at Delaware Park in September, and he later placed in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup in his sophomore finale. Last time, the son of English Channel went wire-to-wire in the Grade 3 Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds on January 26. The Kentucky-bred now boasts a line of 21-5-2-2, $626,942.

Optimizer's dam is the A.P. Indy mare Indy Pick, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Finder's Fee and multiple Grade 1-winning steeplechaser Tax Ruling. All were produced by Grade 1 winner Fantastic Find. Optimizer's third dam was the noted Phipps family producer Blitey, while his third dam was 1966 champion three-year-old filly Lady Pitt.

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